Judy Garland

Minnelli valiantly continued to deny the reports of suicide, and suggested that "some progress has been made" toward Garland returning to continue filming "Royal Wedding". A spokesman for the studio told reporters: "Miss Garland is now resting under her doctor's care. She is asleep. I saw her and she has a slight bandage on her neck. No stitches were required."

The press continued to stake out the house, and while Garland, tried to adjust to the situation, Minnelli ordered a bar and buffet set up in the drive for the besieging newsmen. She received literally hundreds of bouquets, and , while she was overwhelmed by the flowers and orthodox expressions of sympathy, the cable she liked best came from Fred Finklehoffe and his wife, the Broadway star Ella Logan.

It read: DEAR JUDY, SO GLAD YOU CUT YOUR THROAT. ALL THE OTHER GIRL SINGERS NEEDED THIS KIND OF BREAK.

"God, Pa," she said to Carleton Alsop, "isn't that sweet?"